String of Birmingham fires could be arson blazes

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - Authorities say a string of house fires in east Birmingham on Tuesday could be arson.

Birmingham police say they're questioning two men in connection to the fires, which affected five homes in the Woodlawn area.

WBRC-TV reports (http://bit.ly/12GMgds) that the fires broke out around 11 a.m. Birmingham firefighters were almost finished putting out the first blaze when they got a call about another fire around the corner near 52nd Place North and Georgia Road. That fire spread to other nearby homes. In all, five houses either burned or had water damage.

Authorities say the burned homes were vacant but a family of 7 lived in 1 of the homes that had smoke damage.

Birmingham police say at least one firefighter was sent to the hospital to be treated for heat exhaustion.